Tips & Tricks To Avoid Holiday Guilt

Let’s be honest: tradition demands a little indulgence and a lotta gratitude for the things that bring us together year after year. The holiday season is upon us once again, complete with flavorful foods, rich desserts, and high-calorie beverages.

Between office parties, school events, and holiday gatherings, it can be challenging to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle. And… if you’re like most of us, you may find yourself feeling bloated, discouraged, or downright guilty after over-indulging.

In that spirit, here are some tips and tricks to help you stay on track from Thanksgiving to New Years Day:

Stay hydrated. Drinking lots of water before meals will help you manage portion sizes. It will also keep you more alert and may even help curb alcohol consumption (Tip: try drinking one glass of water for each alcoholic beverage or each dessert that you consume).

Police your plate size. Portion control is so much easier when you’re using a smaller plate. Refraining from seconds is good advice too.

Snack. You read that right. Fill your pantry and fridge with healthy snacks (i.e. hummus, veggies, yogurt, fresh fruit, etc.) and eat something light before going to events where you know there will be lots of high-calorie, high-fat foods. It will curb your appetite and help you resist unwelcome temptation. Showing up ravenous is a recipe for failure.

Savor the flavor! Indulge in your favorite foods… but eat slowly. Savor each bite, each sip, and each experience as if it is a special treat. Not only will you find yourself more satiated physically, but more satisfied emotionally. Also, skip seconds.

Be sure to have whole foods in the house and get back to eating them as soon as possible, including veggies, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins.

Sleep…The holiday bustle, along with traveling, can interrupt regular routines and sleep patterns. When we’re overtired, we often mistake sleep deprivation for hunger. Many of us forage for carbs in an effort to re-energize, only perpetuating our exhaustion. Seven to eight hours of sleep a night and/or micro-naps can be a grand thing!

Freeze leftovers…Pssst… You don’t have to eat everything in the same week. Soups and desserts freeze quite nicely.

Get back to the gym or go for walks outside. Increasing cardio and strength-training activities burns calories and helps regulate your metabolism. Being outside in the fresh air is a natural energy booster. If you don’t have a gym membership, here’s a Special Deal we’ve negotiated for patients through Edge Fitness Clubs.

For anyone who’s had surgery, it’s important to keep in mind that the results can only be maintained with healthy lifestyle choices.

For those of you who are considering surgery, keep in mind you’ll get the best results if you’re already within 20Lbs of your ideal weight when you have a procedure. Gaining or losing a lot of weight after surgery can affect the long-term results (even with procedures like breast augmentation). If you’re planning on surgery within the next few months, let that motivate you to use the tips and tricks above!